Happy Thursday, y’all!

Tonight I’m reviewing The Saturday Night Supper Club by Carla Laureano. I read this book on a bit of a whim last month. I absolutely loved Laureano’s Five Days in Skye and I was in the mood for a beautiful romance. Finally, my library stocked more of her books! I was thrilled! And of course, I was not disappointed.

This is another lovely story with a beautiful romance and so much delicious food! I love foodie books and this one is a treat. Chef Rachel Bishop cooks so many incredible meals that made my mouth water.

Initial Thoughts:

• I included this book on my most recent Saturday Book List because the descriptions of food in this book are amazing! Laureano will make your mouth water for everything on the menu from food truck Greek fries to scallops and greens to breakfast pastries. Everything sounds amazing. I would now like to visit Denver and experience it’s food scene for myself!
• I was very impressed with the seamless way a story about a surprising social media scandal can be turned into an opportunity for our protagonists to come to God. This story is full of beauty and grace while also easily relatable for Laureano’s modern audience.

According to Goodreads, “Denver chef Rachel Bishop has accomplished everything she’s dreamed and some things she never dared hope, like winning a James Beard award and heading up her own fine-dining restaurant. But when a targeted smear campaign causes her to be pushed out of the business by her partners, she vows to do whatever it takes to get her life back . . . . Essayist Alex Kanin never imagined his pointed editorial would go viral. . . Plagued by guilt-fueled writer’s block, Alex vows to do whatever he can to repair the damage. . . . Alex agrees to help rebuild Rachel’s tarnished image by offering his connections and his home to host an exclusive pop-up dinner party targeted to Denver’s most influential citizens: the Saturday Night Supper Club. As they work together to make the project a success, Rachel begins to realize Alex is not the unfeeling opportunist she once thought he was, and that perhaps there’s life–and love–outside the pressure-cooker of her chosen career. But can she give up her lifelong goals without losing her identity as well?”

First, I love this love story. Rachel and Alex seem to be destined to never like each other. But then they decide to work together. I love that Rachel doesn’t let Alex off the hook immediately for what he did. Even if us readers had forgiven him from the moment he seeks her out to apologize. I think their slow infatuation with each other makes it even more fun. I devoured their story–the ways they slowly let down their walls and trust each other. Plus the way they meet is clever, awkward and fun. Their romance is so passionate and intense. And wow does Carla Laureano know how to write a steamy kiss–we wait a long time for their first one and it does not disappoint!

I loved Rachel’s journey in this novel and how she finds peace and strength in her faith and in herself. We uncover her past and insecurities piece by piece through the novel. I think that makes Rachel feel more human because she is flawed and still working to move forward after difficult experiences in her past. I think a lot of us can relate to that. She overcomes a lot and I was cheering for her the entire way. Also, she has some really great friends in Ana and Melody–we all need friends like that!

Laureano weaves God and faith into this story in ways so subtle, you almost miss how beautiful the religious connections are in the midst of the food and love. I love that there are books being published now that celebrate God and faith. Books that encourage us all to be our best selves through faith. Books that teach how to forgive, how to move forward, how to see ourselves in a better light. All these ideas come into play in this novel. But it isn’t preachy or over sentimental. Faith binds the characters together and helps them move forward because of their shared trials, not in spite of them. This was just the message I needed.

My one qualm with this novel is that it felt a bit long in parts. I think the best scenes show Rachel in the kitchen creating new menus and also her budding relationship with Alex. I think it got a bit repetitive in describing Rachel’s insecurities and fears about men and life outside the professional cooking world. I would have preferred another meeting of the Saturday Night Supper Club or perhaps just a book that was 30-50 pages shorter. But this was a minor issue for me.

Overall, a beautiful novel I could hardly put down! Rachel’s story teaches readers the power of friendship and love through a plot that is a true culinary delight. Can’t wait to read book #2!

What are your favorite foodie books? 
Have you read Carla Laureano’s books yet? Which is your favorite?